Working for People with Sight Loss
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Policy & Submissions

1.    Public Transport 

Accessible signage and audio announcements

  • Accessible information is a key component of journey planning for people who are blind or vision impaired.
  • NCBI emphasizes that all public transport providers must ensure timely, reliable, audible, and accurate announcements are in operation at all times on public transport.
  • These announcements should let passengers know the direction of travel, the name of the next station, and any relevant location-specific information.
  • It is essential that the service includes accessible, large print signage to assist people who are blind or vision impaired, as well as ensuring live travel information screens are present and in operation.
  • Travel information, ticket booking, and timetables must all be available online and on mobile apps. These websites and apps must meet international accessibility guidelines to ensure they are compatible with any assistive technology that may be used.

Rural & Urban transport

  • The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) signed by Ireland, supports the right of people with disabilities to travel independently.
  • NCBI continues to argue that people who are living with sight loss, regardless of their location, should have access to suitable public transport to support independent living.
  • These services should support a person living with sight loss to access essential services, such as education and employment, and access to wider amenities that can have a positive impact on their health and well-being such as local parks, walking trails, and public spaces for socializing.

2.    Health

ECLO

  • NCBI recognizes the urgent need for prompt access to early diagnosis and support with adapting to a life-changing condition,
  • NCBI introduced Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs) in 2019. ECLOs are presently based in Dublin and Cork hospitals. They provide vital practical information and emotional support for patients from the point of diagnosis onwards as well as signposting to community rehabilitation services.
  • ECLOs support clinicians by giving the ophthalmologist teams more time to focus on providing people who are blind or visually impaired with the necessary support needed.
  • NCBI is calling on Government to invest €490,000 annually to ensure the essential ECLO service is available to people living with sight loss all around Ireland.

Waiting Lists

  • NCBI continues to highlight that long waiting lists for ophthalmology appointments can result in people with sight loss experiencing a deterioration in their condition. Some may even experience irreversible damage to their vision while on a waiting list.
  • In Feb 2023, 37,829 adults and children were waiting for an outpatient ophthalmology appointment, of these 8,639 have been waiting over 18 months.
  • Recruitment of more ophthalmologists is needed and these recruitments should be targeted based on need within each Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) as the length of time someone is waiting on ophthalmology care varies across each CHO area.

3.    Social Protection 

Expansion of free travel scheme to people with long term eye-conditions

  • NCBI is calling on the Government to address the issue facing approximately 700 people registered as NCBI Service Users who are living with a long-term eye condition but are unable to access the Free Travel Scheme and are not eligible to drive.
  • NCBI has called on the Government to amend the Eligibility Criteria for the Free Travel Scheme to include the people in this category. This would significantly reduce the individual cost of living with sight loss and enable people to enjoy a more independent life

Cost of Disability Report impact on Social Welfare Supports

  • The Department of Social Protection published the Cost of Disability Report in Ireland (2021) which detailed the additional costs that would impact the cost of living with a disability such as mobility, transport, communications, care and assistance services, equipment, aids, appliances, and medicines.
  • NCBI has called on the Government to increase the basic social welfare rate for the Blind Pension and Disability Allowance by recognizing these additional costs. The Cost of Disability Report for people living with sight loss states this cost is €10,997 to €13,609 per annum. This highlights the urgent need for the Government to address this.

4.      Employment 

Hybrid working / self employment

  • The Covid19 pandemic has led to hybrid and remote working opportunities being more common. Having this flexibility is appealing to people who are blind or vision impaired especially when poor public transport prevents them from applying for roles.
  • Supports such as digital assistive technology must be available to those working from home as well as those who are office based.
  • For those seeking self employment, a package of tailored sector specific support should be available for those seeking to start their own business.

Person-centred Payment

  • NCBI urges the Government to publish its review of the HSE Technical Aids Grant and the Department of Social Protection’s Reasonable Accommodation Fund to standardise, modernise and expand how supports are offered. This would decrease the current regional variations that exist.
  • Also NCBI recommends the shift away from employer led supports towards the introduction of a Personal Employment Grant which would employees to apply for and subsequently retain their assistive equipment throughout their career whether they work remotely or not.

5.    Digital Accessibility 

Online applications for Social Welfare Payment

  • The Department of Social Protection is still very paper based, expecting paper-based application forms to be completed when requesting payments including Blind Pension or Disability Allowance. This can be a difficult process for people with sight loss.
  • The Department of Social Protection website is not compliant with the EU Web Accessibility Directive. But NCBI urges a move to an accessible electronic application system alongside the paper-based system, similar to the electronic applications that were introduced for those applying for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.

EU Web Accessibility Directive

  • NCBI believes that technology is a huge enabler for people living with sight loss. Using a smart phone or the internet on PC / ipad or having specific assistive technology can enhance independence, for example, to book tickets for transport or concerts, apply for a job, to read information and documents, navigate their way safely in public areas etc.
  • However, the digital world is not fully accessible which places people who are blind or vision impaired at a distinct disadvantage. The EU Web Accessibility Directive, mandatory since 2020, places a legal duty all public sector bodies to have their websites and apps fully accessible. However, many are still not in full compliance with the legislation. NCBI has called for a Digital Accessibility fund to be created to allow Government Departments, State Agencies, schools, and hospitals to update their websites so they are fully accessible.
  • This law will extend to all private sector service providers in 2025 through the implementation of the European Accessibility Act.

Submissions and Position Papers

NCBI Position Papers

If you would like any further information, please email campaigns@ncbi.ie

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